Ditching-machine



Unirse Srarns are ENGE- FAVCETT PLUMB, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

Duree-nne- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,887, dated May 20, 1884.

Application filed February l, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnwonrr PLUMB, of Streator, in the county of Lav Salle and State 0f Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in ditching-machines, the object being to provide an effective ditching-machine actuated by horse-power.

Vith this end in view my invention consists in a main frame mounted upon wheels, a swinging frame carrying a cutting wheel journaled therein, a horse-power mounted thereon, and mechanism whereby the power is transmitted to the cutting-wheel and drivingwheels. l

My invention further consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying` drawing is a View in side elevation of that portion of the machine embodying the horse power and transmitting mechanism.

The main frame A, its supporting-wheels B, and the swinging frame C, with the exception of such slight modifications as will be fully described4 herein, are preferably constructed in the manner set forth at length in the specification, forming a part of Letters Patent No. 244,400, granted to me July 19, 1881. The cutting-wheel D is preferably constructed and mounted in the manner fully described in the specification, forming a part of my application for Letters `Patent :tiled October 17, 1883.

E represents a railway horse-power or treadmill mounted upon the forward end of the main frame A, and centering conveniently nearly over the vaxle of the forward truck. The forward end of the railway-bor; rests in an elevated position upon a cross -beam or blocks e, secured on the main frame, and the rear end rests on a cross-beam or blocks e, se-

cured to the extreme forward end of the main frame.

The railway horse-power or tread-mill E may be of any approved construction, consistpassing around and ing of the endless belt F,

constructed to revolve the drum o1" shaft G, on which shaft the sprocket-wheel y is rigidly secured. TheshaftHisjournaledtransversely to the main frame in boxes secured to the cross-beam or blocks e, and carries the sprocket-wheel 7L andcog-wheel h', rigidlysecured thereon. A chain belt, f, connects the sprocket-wheels g and h. The cog-wheel K and the sprocket-wheels k and k are secured rigidly upon the shaft I, upon which shaft the swinging frame C is mounted. The cog-Wheel h' is constructed and situated to engage the cogwheel K, and thereby turn the shaft I and sprocket-wheels cand k. The sprocket-wheel ls is connected with a sprocket-wheel, [not shown,) the latter being in contact with the cutting-wheel D by a chain belt,j", by means of which motion is transmitted to the cuttingwheel. The sprocketwheel 7c is connected with the sprocket-wheel L by the chain belt f2, the wheel L being rigidly secured on the shaft M, journaled in the main frame just back of the forward truck. The shaft M carries the toothed pinion Z, which engages the toothed Wheel N, rigidly secured on the shaft m, journaled in the main frame, and carrying the toothed pinion a. The latter engages the toothed wheel O, rigidly secured on the shaft m', and carrying the toothed pinion o. The toothed pinion o engages the toothed wheel I), rigidly secured on the shaft m2, journaled in the main frame, and carrying the sprocket-wheel p and the drum Q. The sprocket-wheel Risrigidly secured on the shaft m3, journaled on the main latter being so situated as to engage the internal toothed rim, S,on the truck-wheel B. The sprocket-wheel R is connected with the sprocket-wheel p by the chain belt f 3. The drum Q is constructed and arranged to wind upon itself the wire cable U, one end of which may be secured to the stake or post V, set firmly in the ground.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The motion of the endless belt F of the horsepower causes the sprocket-wheel g to rotate. 'Ihis motion is transmitted to the wheel h by the belt f in the direction denoted by the arrow. 'Ihe motion of the wheel L is communicated to the shaft I and wheels thereon by the contact of the cog-wheels h and K. The motion of the wheel lo is transmitted to the frame, and carrying the toothed pinion r, the

IOO

cutting-wheelD through the chain belt f and the motion of the 'wheel 7c is transmitted to wheel L through the belt f2. The motion of L is communicated to N by the contact of the 5 cog-wheels l and N, from N to O bythe contact of a and O, from O to P and drum Q by the Contact of o and P, and from P to R by the belt f3. The motion of R is communicated to the truck-wheel B by the contact of the cog- Io wheel r with the toothed rim S on the said truck-wheel, and the whole machine .is propelled by the motion of the truck-wheel B. The forward motion of the machine is so reguluted by this system of gearing as to keep the cutting-wheel up to its maximum work.

` Either the cable or the pinion r can be employed separately for imparting a forward movement to the machine; butI prefer to employ them both, as one assists the other and 2o# prevents any retrograde or lost motion. rPhe postVbeing set rmly in the ground, one end of the cable U is secured to it and the other end to the drum Q. It will be readily seen that the motion of the drum will now wind up the cable and force the machine forward, as

before.

It is evident that slight changes in the po-v sitions and construction of the several parts may be made without departing from the 3o spirit and scope of my invention. I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with an excavator, of a railway or tread-mill Yhorse-power combined with the supportingframe of the excavator, and mechanism for 4o transmitting motion from the horse-power to the excavator and propelling-wheel of the machine. n

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination,

with a rotary excavator, of a railway or treadmill horse-power, combined with the support# ing-frame of the excavator, and mechanism for transmitting the motion of the horse-power to the excavator and propelling-wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ditching-machine, the combination, 5o with a main frame supported upon wheels, and a railway or tread-mill horse-power secured upon the main frame, of a driving mechanism constructed to engage one of the supportingwheels, and mechanism constructed to transmit the motion of the horse-power to the driving mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, the combination,

. with a main frame supported upon wheels, and

a railway or tread-mill horse-power secured 6o upon the main frame, of a toothed rim attached to one of the supporting-wheels, and 'mechanism constructed to transmit the motion of the horse-power 'to the toothed rim, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a main frame supportedupon wheels, and a railway or tread-mill horse-power secured upon the main frame, of a drum and cable, and mechanism constructed and arranged to transmit the motion of the horse-power to the drum and cable, substantially as set forth.

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a main frame supported upon wheels, and a railway or tread-mill horse-power secured upon the main frame, of a supporting-wheel provided with teeth, a drum constructed to wind a cable, and mechanism constructed to transmit the motion of the horse-power to the wheel and drum simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signedv this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FAWCETT PLUMB.

Vitnesses: v

JOHN B. PLUME,

GEORGE GoULDING. 

